Northeast Section: Conservation Affairs

CONSERVATION AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES

The Northeast Section’s Conservation Affairs Committee (CAC) reviews legislative proposals, administrative regulations, environmental assessments and impact statements, and other subjects or issues affecting wildlife or wildlife habitat within the organizational area of the chapter/section and make recommendations to the executive board for any action that should be taken by the chapter/section; Prepare white papers on critical wildlife issues, and other subjects or issues affecting wildlife or wildlife habitat within the organizational area of the chapter/section; Receive proposed position statements, resolutions, and public statements from two or more members at any time, and shall prepared, submit and recommend action on such items to the Executive Board in accordance with Article AA, Section #; and communicate with The Wildlife Society’s Director of Wildlife Policy and Programs to elevate local or regional issues that may have national or international significance or precedent setting.

The Northeast Section wrote a letter to Ryan Zinke in opposition of abolishing or reducing the size of 27 National Monuments and Marine National Monuments.

The NE CAC also wrote a letter to the National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program Manager in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recommending that no new National Outer Continental Shelf leases be offered until an assessment from the National Academy of Sciences of the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts is completed.

Position Statement: Managing for Biodiversity in Northeastern Forests

View the Northeast Section’s updated position statement here, which was approved by the NETWS membership in March 2018.

Position Statement: Managing Chronically Overabundant Deer

View the Northeast Section’s updated position statement here, which was approved by the NETWS membership on April 1, 2016.

Rescuing Feral Cats Endangers Wildlife

To the Editor of THE EAGLE: I am writing to provide a different perspective in response to your Dec. 4 article, (“Feral cat rescue squad,” Page E5) Feral cats are recognized by biologists as a significant threat to wildlife populations, particularly small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The activities of feral cat advocacy groups that perpetuate the continued presence of feral cat colonies, directly affect the stability and viability of local native wildlife populations.

Even the most conservative published estimates of prey killed by feral cats are immense. Supplemental feeding does not deter cats from killing wild animals; feral cats kill instinctively and not necessarily out of hunger.

The trap-neuter-release and direct feeding programs that some groups engage in are not only ineffective in reducing feral cat numbers but directly harm native wildlife populations. The Wildlife Society (TWS), a scientific professional association of nearly 9,000 professional wildlife biologists from throughout North America, has reviewed this issue in depth. TWS strongly supports and encourages the humane and legally authorized elimination of feral cat colonies. TWS also advocates for aggressive public education that encourages; responsible care for domestic cats; active cat spaying and neutering programs, and; local or state ordinances discouraging the maintenance of feral cat colonies. The general public should be aware that superficially well-intentioned efforts to “protect” feral cat colonies extract a substantial cost from our native wildlife populations.

MARK ELLINGWOOD

Hancock, N.H.

The writer is president of The Wildlife Society’s northeast section.

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